Zoology and wildlife conservation

NIH looks inward and outside for ways to help minorities

Article Abstract:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) wants to expand the number of minorities who pursue careers in biomedical science at its Bethesda, MD research campus and at other institutions. The NIH has received $20 million for FY 1993 to spend on minority training programs. Earlier projects with the same aim will go on under the NIH's Office of Minority Affairs. However, a report by outside consultants showed how difficult it is for minorities to achieve tenure in the NIH's staff fellows program. NIH director Bernadine Healy is stressing the need to correct the lack of minority scientists.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) plan to set up a public policy center to address the national debate on the divisive social, ethical and legal implications of biomedical research. NIH director Bernadine Healy believes that the new think tank will provide the NIH with the intellectual resources necessary for dealing with ethical issues before they become matters of acrimonious public debate. Healy has appointed lawyer Sandra Chamblee to be senior policy analyst and counsellor, charged with organizing the new center.

A report prepared by Benjamin Alexander, a former senior US government official, claimed that the US National Institutes of Health was prejudicial towards African-Americans and that career promotions were granted in exchange for sexual favours. On Sep 19, 1992, the day after the report was submitted to NIH Office of Equal Opportunity director, the report was stolen from Alexander's office.